The number of catering outlets in the UK grew by 1.3% to 17,603 in 2007, up from 17,373 the previous year, according to the latest survey by the British Hospitality Association.

The number of sites using contractors' services has doubled over the past twenty years, while the number of meals served has more than trebled since 1989, from 500 million to 3.5 billion in 2007.

Although the number of contracts declined in 2007,  this fall reflected the growing trend among foodservice management companies to drop  unprofitable or low-yield contracts, along with their regular re-categorisation of outlets.

Business and industry remained the dominant sector, accounting for nearly half of all outlets and more than 40% of all meals served. However, its predominance has shrunk since 1991, when it accounted for almost three-quarters of all outlets and half of the meals served.

The share taken by state schools (33.2%) continued to rise to reach their highest level since the survey began, suggesting caterers are overcoming the problems that have beset the sector in recent years.

The fall in the number of healthcare outlets followed the drop in the number of private nursing homes.

These facts and figures are reported in the Food and Service Management Survey 2007, published by the British Hospitality Association. The report is available for £50 as a hard copy or for £35 as a PDF file.

 

More facts and figures from the Food and Service Management Survey

UK contract catering turnover >> 

Number of meals served by UK contract caterers >>

Key ratios in contract catering >>

Types of catering contract >>

Number of employees in UK contract catering market >>

Number of outlets followed (in bold green type) by percentage share of total outlets

	2007	2006	2005*	2004	2003	2002
Business & industry	8,436 47.9%	9,103 52.4%	8,973 51%	8,975 49.8%	8,939 48.6%	9,078 47.8%
Healthcare	636 3.6%	799 4.6%	839 4.8%	859 4.8%	882 4.8%	863 4.5%
State education	5,836 33.2%	4,898 28.2%	4,506 25.5%	4,676 25.9%	5,027 27.4%	5,647 29.8%
Independent schools	736 4.2%	781 4.5%	754 4.3%	841 4.7%	919 5.0%	846 4.5%
Local authorities	242 1.4%	257 1.5%	291 1.7%	368 2.0%	477 2.6%	467 2.5%
Ministry of Defence	352 2%	421 2.4%	490 2.8%	520 2.9%	522 2.8%	372 2.0%
Oil rigs  **	229 1.3%	193 1.1%	202 1.1%	223 1.2%	235 1.3%	199 1.0%
Catering for the public	1,136 6.4%	921 5.3%	914* 5.4%	1,566 8.7%	1,385 7.5%	1,507 7.9%
Total and % change year-on year	17,603 +1.3%	17,373 +2.3%	16,969 -5.8%	18,028 -1.9%	18,386 -3.1%	18,979 +3.9%

 

 

 

	2001	2000	1999	1998	1997	1991
Business & industry	9,002 49.2%	8,930 50%	8,766 49.1%	8,410 46.3%	7,671 45.6%	7,775 74.7%
Healthcare	960 5.2%	971 5.5%	923 5.2%	822 4.5%	704 4.2%	337 3.2%
State education	4,847 26.5%	4,621 26%	5,005 28.0%	5,727 31.6%	5,800 35.4%	450 4.3%
Independent schools	813 4.5%	585 3.4%	597 3.3%	568 3.1%	476 2.9%	620 6.0%
Local authorities	543 3.0%	580 3.3%	582 3.2%	573 3.2%	396 2.4%	463 4.5%
Ministry of Defence	401 3.2%	580 3.3%	502 2.9%	467 2.6%	412 2.5%	190 1.8%
Oil rigs  **	238 1.3%	267 1.5%	272 1.5%	256 1.4%	252 1.5%	246 2.4%
Catering for the public	1,485 8.1%	1,253 7.0%	1,218 6.8%	1,328 7.3%	991 5.5%	324 3.1%
Total and % change year-on year	18,289 +2.8%	17,787 +0.4%	17,865  -	18,151 -	16,702 -	11,954 -

 

 

 

*  Figures readjusted to reflect Compass's sale of Select Service Partner in 2006
** Includes training centres and construction sites

An outlet is any catering unit (or part of a catering unit) that is separately operated and managed.
Business and industry includes department store staff and prisons/prison shops.
Healthcare includes NHS and private hospitals, along with nursing and retirement homes.
State education includes state schools, grant-maintained schools, further and higher eduction.
Independent schools include all private schools.
Local authority catering includes town administration, police, fire and welfare.